Article assembling apparatus



Feb. 12, 1946.

ARTI CLE AS S EMBLING A P PARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Filed July 8, 1944 Patented Feb. 12, 1946 2,394,881 ARTICLE ASSEMBLING APPARATUS George Stuhlfauth,

Chicago, 111., assigno r to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 8, 1944, Serial No. 544,088

11 Claims.

This invention relates to article assembling apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for assembling insulating elements in receiver units.

In the manufacture of some communications apparatus, an acoustic receiver element or unit is formed as an individual part and comprises a magnet assembly having coils thereon, the cores of which extend beyond the coils through an in- I sulating member and are adapted to magnetically attract a receiver diaphragm which rests on the upper surface of the unit and on the core members of the coils. It is essential, in this apparatus, to have a slight air gap between the insulating member and the diaphragm to be placed thereover to permit vibration of the diaphragm in the reception of sound through the receiver apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and eflicient apparatus for rapidly assembling parts ofacoustic apparatus.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a receiver unit having a core member therein, on which coils are wound, is placed on a suitable fixture for supporting it in position to have an insulator attached to it; The insulator, prior to being placed on the coils and held in position in the unit, has a small amount of thermoplastic adhesive material applied to it on the side thereof to engage the coils, the insulator being suitably apertured to permit the extending core members to pass through it. After the unit is placed on the fixture, a manually operable and magnetically releasable lever is operated tov move a heating element into engagement with the exposed surface of the insulator and, simultaneously, to close a circuit to a suitable timing device. The timing device is operative, after a predetermined interval, to direct fluid under pressure to one end of a piston carrying a crimping tool which surrounds the heating element and is reciprocable with respect thereto. The piston will drive the crimping tool down to crimp an edge of the capsule over the insulator, thus to fix it securely in place.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an apparatus embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows and showing details of 30 capsule or unit construction of the crimping tool and heating element on a slightly enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the hydraulic and electrical circuits of the apparatus;

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showing details of construction of the lower end of the crimping and heating tools with the heating tool in its operated position and the crimping tool in its unoperated position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the crimping tool in its operated position; and Fig. 6 is an exploded view in perspective of a receiver unit and insulator prior to their assembly.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like refer-- ence characters designate the same parts throughout the several views, particular reference first being had to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the apparatus includes a base H, which may be mounted upon a suitable table or bench to make the apparatus easily accessible to an operator. At the rear of base II, that is, at the right hand side, as viewed in Fig. l, a back plate I2 is attached to thebase II and extends upwardly to support various parts of. the apparatus, being suitably fixed at its upper end to a top plate [3. The base II has a fixture supporting block l4 suitably attached to it to receive a fixture I5 which is, in turn, adapted to receive a receiver l8 and to position it in exact alignment with a reciprocable heating unit I1, which comprises, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and .4, a heater element l8 set into a copper heat transfer member 19, which is shaped at its lower end to conform to the shape of an insulator 20. The'copper insert I9 is milled out, as shown at 2|, to receive the heater element I8 and has a pair of clearance pockets 22-22 formed in it into which the pole pieces 23 of a magnet assembly 24 may extend when the heating unit I1 is inengagement with the insulator 29, thus to apply heat to the insulator without overheating the pole pieces 23. r

The heating unit I! is suitably fixed in the end of an irregularly shaped sleeve 25, which is slidably mounted in the central bore 26 of a crimping tool 21 and in a bearing ring 28. Extending outwardly from the sidesof the bearing ring 28 are a pair of trunnions 29-49 having reduced inner ends 30-40 extending into slots 3l-3l formed in the sleeve 25. The upper end of the sleeve 25 is threaded to receive a stop nut 32, one side of which is split so that it may be locked in .place on the sleeve 25 by means of a locking screw 33. Interposed between the bearing ring 28 and,

a shoulder 34 formed on the sleeve 25 is a compression spring 35, which normally urges the sleeve 25 to hold the stop nut 32 against the upper surface of the ring 28, but which may be compressed slightly when the lower end of the copper heat transfer member I9 engages the insulator 20.

The bearing ring 28 is slidably mounted in a tool actuating tube 45, into the lower end of which the crimping tool 21 is threaded. The upper end of the tool actuating tube is threaded to receive a connector block 46 suitably attached to the lower end of a piston rod 41 by means of a shouldered ring 48 having an annular shoulder 49 adapted to engage a cooperating shoulder 50 on a connector bolt I threaded into the piston 41 and locked in place thereon by a lock nut 52. The tool actuating tube 45 is slidable in a bore 53 formed in a support block 54. The support block 54 has a base portion 55, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, which is mounted in spaced relation to the base I I by means of spacers 56- 56 and bolts 51-51, the bolts 51 having their heads nested in suitable sockets in the base II- and being threaded into standards 5858, which cooperate with the support block 54 in supporting a cylinder 59 adjacent to the top plate I3. The trunnions 2929 extend through aligned slots 60--60 and 6I6I formed in the tool actuating tube 45, and support block 54. At their outer ends, the trunnions 29 are fixed to links 6262, which are, in turn, pivotally connected to arms 63-63 of a bifurcated manually operable lever 64, the bifurcated portions of which extend on opposite sides of the support block 54 and are pivotally connected to the support block 54 by means of pivot pins 65-65 threaded into the support block 54.

From the foregoing, it is believed to be apparent that when the manually operable lever 64 is moved from its full line position, as shown in Fig. 1, to the position shown by the dot and dash lines, the links 62--62 will be movedto a position Where they extend vertically, a stop pin 56 being mounted on the support block 54 to prevent the lever 64 from moving beyond the position shown in dot and dash lines. When the lever 64 is rocked to the position shown in dot and dash lines, the bearing ring 28 will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 and will, through the action of spring 5, push the sleeve 25 to the position shown in Fig. 2. The right end of the lever 64, as shown in Fig. 1, has a latching extension 15 formed thereon and adapted to engage a latch 16, which is normally urged to rock clockwise (Fig. 1) by a spring 11, which urges the latch 16 into engagement with a stop pin 18 mounted on the support block 54. The latch 19 is pivoted upon a pivot pin 19 and may be rocked counterclockwise upon energization of a solenoid 80, the movable core 8| of which is connected to the latch 16 by a link 82. Pivotally connected to the right hand arm 63 (Fig. 2) of the lever 64 is a plunger 83, which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, has a reduced portion 84 slidably mounted in a pivoted bearing block 85, which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 86, in turn supported on the support block 54. Interposed between the pivoted bearing block 85 and the larger portion of the plunger 83 is a compression spring 81, which normally tends to hold the plunger 83 in the position shown in Fig. 1 and, consequently, to hold the lever 64 in the position shown in full lines. Upon manual actuation of the lever 64,

the plunger 83 will carry an adjustable actuator screw 88 into engagement with the operating plunger 09 of an electrical switch 90. The switch 90, as shown diagramatically in Fig. 3, is provided with contacts 9| which will be closed when the actuator screw 88 engages the operating plunger of the switch 90. These contacts are normally open and control a timer 92 of a suitable type mounted on the back plate I2 of the apparatus.

The electrical circuit of the apparatus includes, in addition to the timer 92, a pair of switches IOI and I02, which serve to control the operation of the solenoid 89, and a reversing valve mechanism I 03, which includes a pair of solenoid coils I04 and I35 operable upon alternate energization to attract core members I06 and I91. The core members I06 and I01, upon actuation, will rock a valve control lever I08 to shift a valve I09 from one of its operative positions to another of its operative positions, depending upon which of the two core members is actuated. The valve I09 serves to control the flow of fluid under pressure from an inlet pipe H0 to either a pipe III or a pipe I I2 leading to the upper end and lower end, respectively, of the cylinder 59. The valve I 09, upon operation, will serve to connect the inlet pipe IIEI to either the pipe III or II2 to simultaneously connect the opposite one of the pipes III or H2 to an outlet pipe II3.

From the foregoing, it is believed to be apparent that when either the solenoid coil I04 or the solenoid coil I05 is energized, the valve I09 will be shifted to direct fluid under pressure to either the upper or the lower end of the cylinder end 59 and the fluid in the opposite end of the cylinder will be directed out through the pipe H3. It should be noted at this time that, upon operation of the valve I09, the valve will remain in the position to which it is shifted, thus to continue to supply fluid in a selected direction although the solenoid which had last been energized may be deenergized and that the valve will continue to direct'the fluid in the selected direction until the opposite solenoid coil is energized.

The switches Hill and I92, briefly described hereinbefore, are provided with normally open contacts H4 and H5, which are adapted to be controlled by levers H6 and I I1. The levers II 6 and H1, as may be seen most clearly in Fig. 1, are pivotally. mounted on suitable brackets extending from the support block 54 and carry adjustable actuator members H9 and II9 in alignment with actuating plungers I29 and I2I of the switches IIlI and I92, respectively. The left ends of the levers H5 and Ill are in alignment with the lower end of the tool actuating tube 45 and the upper surface of the shouldered ring 46, respectively, whereby, when the piston rod and tool actuating tube are in their lowermost position, the lever H5 will eflfect the closure of contacts H4 and when the piston rod 41 and tool actuating tube 45 are in their uppermost position, lever II1 will effect the closure of switch I02.

When the apparatus is operated to clamp an insulator in a receiverunit, the tool actuating tube will, of course, be moved downwardly and when it is moved downwardly, it will carry the lower end ofthe crimping tool 21 down into engagement with an upstanding annular rib I30 formed on an inwardly extending annular shoulder I3I of the base of the receiver unit I5, as illustrated most clearly in Figs. 4 and '5. Therefore, the lower end of the crimping tool is provided with a crimping portion I32, which will engage the rib I30 and bend it from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5. It should be noted at this time that a series of vertically extending holes I33 are formed in the crimping tool I41 in order to prevent it from overheating by permitting the circulation of air through the body of the tool.

A mor complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following brief description of the operation of the apparatus. In assembling the washer 20 on the receiver unit IS, an operator may first apply a small amount of adhesive material to the face of the insulator 20, which is to engage the coils of the receiver unit. Thi adhesive material is designated I34 in Figs. 4 and 5. As soon as the operator has applied some adhesive material to the insulator 20, the insulator may be placed on the receiver unit with the pole pieces 23 of the insulator unit extending through apertures in the insulator. Thereupon, the receiver unit may be placed upon the fixture I and the fixture may then be set into the fixture supporting block I4 and properly aligned to position the pole pieces 23 directly beneath the pockets 22 formed in the heat transfer member I9. With the receiver unit in.place beneath the heat transfer member I9, the manually operable lever 04 may be moved from its full line position, as shown in Fig. 1, to its dot and dash line position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thus to move the links 62-452 to a vertical position and, accordingly, push the heat transfer member I9 down onto the top of the insulator 20. The heat transfer member I9 will be heated by the heater element I8, which i up plied with current from a 110 volt A. C. source I35 through a rheostat I36 and will immediately start to heat the insulator 20 and thus render the adhesive sufliciently plastic that the adhesive may be compressed somewhat and th insulator 20 may be forced down onto the annular shoulder I3I. As the manually operable lever 64 reaches its operated position, it will engage the latch 16 and will be latched in its operated position. The lever 64 will also actuate the plunger 83 and effect the closure of switch 90. One side of the contacts 9| of the switch 90 is connected to one end of a source of 110 volt A. C. I31 and, upon closure of the contacts 9|. a circuit will be completed through the contacts 9i. contacts H5 now closed because the piston rod 41 is in its uppermost position (opposite to that shown in Fig. 3), and back to the timer 92, thus to initiate a timing cycle of the timer 92. The time 92 may, as

moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, the valve I09 will direct fluid under pressure from the inlet pipe IIO through pipe (H to the upper end of the cylinder 59, thus to cause piston rod 41 to move downwardly. As the piston rod 41 moves downwardly, it will carry the crimping tool 21 with it, thus to move the tool 21 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5 and crimp the rib I30 over the top surface of the in ulator 30. As shown in the circuit diagram, the solenoid coil I04 is energized and the piston rod 41 has almost reached the bottom of its travel, where the tool actuating tube 45 will move its lower end into engagement with the lever H6 and close the contacts II4. Closure of the contact II4 will complete a circuit from one side of the current source I31 through th solenoid and solenoid coil I05 in parallel and back to the other side of the current source I31. This will energize the solenoid 80 and release the latch I6, thus permitting the plimger 83 to return to normal position under the action of its spring 81 to open the contact 9|. Energization of the solenoid coil I05 will reverse the valve I09 and cause fluid under pressure to be directed through the pipe I I2, thus to raise the piston rod 47 and disengage the crimping tool 21 from the rib I30 and. in this manner, the apparatus will be restored to normal condition, ready for another cycle of operation.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for assembling an element having a thermoplastic adhesive on a surface thereof with a center portion and a rim portion of an article comprising a crimping tool for crimping the rim into clamping engagement with said element, mean for actuating said crimping tool through one complete cycle of operation, a heating unit movable with respect to the crimping tool for engaging the element to render its adhesive plastic for adherence to the center portion, means for moving said heating unit into engagement with said element to heat it and press it onto the center position, and means controlled by said last-mentioned means for initiating operation of the crimping tool actuating means.

2. An apparatus for assembling an element having a thermoplastic adhesive on a surface thereof with a center portion and a rim portion of an article comprising a crimping tool for crimping the rim into clamping engagement with said element, fluid actuated means for moving said crimping tool through one complete cycle of operation, a heating unit movable with respect to the crimping tool, means for engaging said heating unit with said element to render its adhesive plastic and push it into adhering position on the center portion where it will be engaged by the rim portion during the crimping operation, and means controlled by said last-mentioned means for initiating operation of the fluid actuated means.

3. An apparatus for assembling an element having a thermoplastic adhesive on a surface thereof with a center portion and a rim portion of an article comprising a crimping tool for crimping the rim into clamping engagement with said element, means for actuating said crimping tool, a heating unit movable with respect to the crimping tool, means for engaging said heating unit with a, surface of said element to render the adhesive on said element plastic and adherent and to transfer said element to engagement with the center portion and rim portion of the article, and a time delay circuit operable under control of said last-mentioned means to initiate operation of the crimping tool actuating means a predetermined length of time after the heating unit is moved.

4. An apparatus for assembling an element having a thermoplastic adhesive on the surface thereof with a center portion and a rim portion/ of an article comprising a crimping tool for crimping the ring into clamping engagement with said element, means-for actuating said crimping tool, a heatingfiit movable with respect to the crimping tool, means for engaging said heating unit with said element to heat it and move it into adhering engagement with the center portion and into engagement with a part of the rim portion of the article,'and a time delay circuit operable under control of said last-mentioned means including a timer for delaying the operation of the crimping tool actuating means for a predetermined length of time after the heating unit engages said element.

5. An apparatus for assembling an element having a free surface and a surface having a thermoplastic adhesive thereon with a center portion and a rim portion of an article comprising a tubular crimping tool, a cylindrical heating unit slidable in said crimping tool, means for moving said heating unit into engagement with the free surface of the element to heat and plasticize the adhesive on the other surface thereof and press the element into adherin position on the center portion, and means operable under control of said moving means to move the crimping tool with respect to the heating unit to crimp a part of said rim into clamping engagement with said element.

6. An apparatus for assembling an element having a thermoplastic adhesive on a surface thereof with a center portion and a rim portion of an article comprising a hollow crimping tool for engaging a portion of said rim and crimping it over the edge of said element after the element is positioned on the center portion, a heating unit movable with respect to said crimping tool to engage said element to heat its thermoplastic adhesive to render it adherent and press it against the center portion in position to have the crimping tool crimp the rim over its edge, and means operable under control of the heating unit moving means to actuate the crimping tool.

7. An apparatus for assembling an element having a thermoplastic adhesive on the surface thereof with a center portion and a rim portion of an article comprising a hollow crimping tool, a heating unit slidably mounted in said crimping tool, manually operable means for moving said heating unit with respect to the crimping tool to engage the heating unit with said element for heating the adhesive to make it sticky and transferring the element into engagement with the center portion and the rim portion, a control circuit, means on said manually operable means for initiating operation of the control circuit, and means in said control circuit operable to initiate movement of said crimping too-1 with respect to said heating unit.

8. An apparatus for assembling an element having a thermoplastic adhesive on a surface thereof with a center portion and a rim portion of an article comprising a hollow crimping tool, a heating unit slidably mounted in said crimping tool, manually operable means for moving said heating unit with respect to the crimping tool to engage said element and heat it to make it adherent and transfer it into engagement with both the center portion and the rim portion, a control circuit, mean on said manually operable means all) iii

for initiating operation of the control circuit, means in said control circuit operable to initiate movement of said crimping tool with respect to said heating unit to cause it to crimp a part of the rim portion over the edge of said element,

means for latching said manually operable means in operated position, and means in said circuit for releasing said latching means.

9. An apparatus for assembling an element having a thermoplastic adhesive on a surface thereof with a center portion and a rim portion of an article comprising a crimping tool for crimping a part of said rim over the edge of said element, a heating unit mounted for movement with respect to said crimping tool, means for moving said heating unit to engage said element to heat it and make it adherent and transfer it into engagement with said center portion, a control switch operable .by said moving means, means for actuating said crimping tool, and a switch in series with said control switch and normally held closed by said crimping tool actuating means.

10. In an apparatus for assembling an element having a thermoplastic adhesive on a surface thereof with a center portion and arim portion of an article, the combination of a crimping tool for crimping an edge of the rim over an edge of the element and a heating unit movable with respect. to the crimping too-l to engage and heat the element to render its adhesive surface plastic and adherent and transfer the element into engagement with the rim portion and center portion, of a control circuit for said heating unit and crimping tools comprising a control switch operable upon movement of the heating unit, a switch normally held closed by the crimping tool, and a restoring switch positioned to be closed by the crimping tool at one extreme of the crimping tools movement.

11. In an apparatu for assembling an element having a thermoplastic adhesive on a surface thereof with a center portion and a rim portion of an article, the combination of a crimping tool for crimping a part of said rim portion over an edge of the element, means for moving the crimping tool, a heating unit engageable with the element to position it with respect to the center portion and rim and to heat it to render its adhesive surface plastic and adherent, and means for moving the heating unit with a control circuit including a control switch, means interconnecting the means for moving the heating unit and the control switch for closing the control switch when the heating unit is moved, a timer operable upon closure of the control switch, a switch in series with the control switch and normally held closed by the means for moving the crimping tool, a switch positioned to be closed by the crimping tool moving means, means nor- 1; mally tending to restore the means for moving the heating unit to normal unoperated position, 

